Well that's true, but when you have Silva who currently doesn't lose, I just don't see him being at the same level. Now if Silva starts to lose then that opinion could change.

Fair enough. I think Silva is a little bit older than Fedor, but maybe doesn't have quite as many fights under his belt, and he still seems to be in his prime, while Fedor hit a decline. As a boxing fan there's nothing I like better than a "who would win if _____ from 19____ and 19____ era ______ were matched up. But Silva and Fedor were probably both the most dominant in their weight-class in their sport during their times.

To get back to the original topic, I dont think a win would make Hendo quite GOAT status, but I think it would be something that earns him the right to be mentioned as one of the best fighters to ever do it (I mean, he already is, but I think a Jones win would put him in the indisputable top 10).

To get back to the original topic, I dont think a win would make Hendo quite GOAT status, but I think it would be something that earns him the right to be mentioned as one of the best fighters to ever do it (I mean, he already is, but I think a Jones win would put him in the indisputable top 10).

Because it's hard to pin it down, even in this young sport, I'm thinking of the GOAT as an electron cloud, with area's of probability.

There's heavy traffic around Fedor, Anderson, and Hendo is gaining. A FUC...er...UFC belt would bolster the argument greatly, considering what he's already accomplished.

If it were judged merely by impact on mma fighting, I'd vote Royce Gracie. That isn't how I weigh it, so I won't.

Fedor was an undersized king of the big dogs, for long enough (at his natural weight), to have earned the status, to me. He always came forward, bested the best in their primes, and only lost to really good fighters, in his later years. Werdum, Bigfoot, and Hendo are all dangerous guys.

Now if Hendo were to beat Anderson, and Jones, that would heavily add to his thing, in this type of discussion.

Right now Fedor as a much better record than Silva.
Silva is 32-4-1
Fedor is 34-4-1 PLUS Fedor as a 25 fight win streak with the likes of Bablu, Gary Goodridge, Mark Hunt, Big Nog, Arloski, Sylva, Lindland, Hunt, Cro Cop, Roidelman, and many more.
Silva is on a 16 figth streak with some tough fighters as well but on paper Fedor looks better for GOAT.

For me Dan Henderson can't be considered the GOAT because he simply hasn't shown the same level of dominance that Fedor and Silva have shown. He's one of the greats but not the goat.
I also don't really see the point in 'what if he beats both Silva and Jones' since 'what if' doesn't really have any sway now at this moment, and I don't really see that happening in the future.